Martin Hyde, a Sarasota businessman registered with no party affiliation, is running for Florida State Senate District 22 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Republican James Buchanan and Democrat Lew Wasserman.

Asked why he is seeking office, Hyde said in our candidate questionnaire: "To continue to be a loud voice for citizen interests instead of a yes vote for 'Special interests'"

Candidate information

Party affiliation: Hyde said in our questionnaire: "No party affiliation based on the reality that both major parties are controlled by special interest donors and the extreme factions of their ideology."

Occupation: Hyde said in our questionnaire: "Businessman with 38 years of CEO level experience on both sides of Thr Atlantic."

Education: Hyde said in our questionnaire: "In the Uk graduating from St Joseph's college."

Family: Hyde said in our questionnaire: "Four Sons ranging from my eldest who is a sergeant in the Sarasota sheriff's department to my youngest who is a Freshman at Embry Riddell."

Residence: Hyde has lived in Sarasota for 27 years, according to his campaign website. He was born in the United Kingdom and is a naturalized U.S. citizen, Hyde said on the site.

Experience and public service

Hyde has held no elected office. He said in our questionnaire that he has held no previous elected or appointed offices. He ran for the U.S. House Florida District 16 Republican primary in 2022, according to his campaign website. He also ran for the Sarasota City Commission, according to Florida Politics. Florida Politics reported he was CEO of Gulf Business Services as of 2022 and previously played professional soccer for Brighton and Southampton in the United Kingdom.

On the issues

Independence: Asked what an independent candidate offers that the two parties cannot, Hyde said in our questionnaire: "Exactly that independence free from having to pander to a narrow set of interests simply to contradict the other."

Differences from opponents: Hyde said in our questionnaire: "In the case of James Buchanan I'm not funded by property developers or AI interests. Lew Wasserman is a nice person but without any record of local advocacy. I don't represent anything beyond citizen interests as proven by over 500 appearances in front of local boards."

Live Local Act and home rule: Hyde told the Manatee Chamber of Commerce that Live Local and SB-180 are bad for the community because they remove home rule on development and zoning. He said he will advocate to modify those bills' elements that affect local government's ability to make local decisions.

Infrastructure: Hyde told the Manatee Chamber that stormwater and water generally both need significant updates and investment as his top infrastructure solution for the region.

Taxes: Hyde told the Manatee Chamber his priorities for attracting investment include keeping government out of anything it does not need to be involved in, no tax increases and rolling back fees.

Accomplishments: Asked what past accomplishments show he can handle the job, Hyde said in our questionnaire: "The successful transformation of failing businesses into successful ones and living well without being born into extraordinary privilege."

Best advice: Hyde said in our questionnaire: "To believe in what people are as opposed who they claim to be."

Life experience: Asked how his life experience shapes what he would do in the Senate, Hyde said in our questionnaire: "We are all the sum total of our experiences. I've had a colorful and memorable life with many ups and a few downs. Recognizing that good and bad are both just points in a journey while maintaining core values and a sense of perspective is what my life has taught me."